Iowa Lawmaker Pushing for Psychedelic Rescheduling, Legalization

An Iowa state lawmaker who introduced two bills to legalize psilocybin last week says that research shows that there is potential for the medical use of magic mushrooms and other hallucinogenic drugs. Rep. Jeff Shipley, a Republican who began his first term in the Iowa House of Representatives last month, said in a press release that the medical use of psilocybin, MDMA, and ibogaine should not be illegal.

“I believe an Iowan should not be criminalized for trying to use psychedelic substances for medicinal purposes,” Shipley said. “The DEA currently identifies Psilocybin, MDMA, and Ibogaine as schedule I drugs, meaning they have no accepted medical use and high potential for abuse. A significant body of research indicates that there are substantial medical benefits.”

The bills sponsored by Shipley are House File 248 and House File 249, which he introduced on February 6. H.F. 248 would remove psilocybin and psilocin from the list of schedule I controlled substances under Iowa’s uniform controlled substances act. H.F. 249 would allow the Iowa Board of Pharmacy to reclassify ibogaine, MDMA, and psilocybin as controlled substances for medicinal purposes. The bill also removes statutory penalties when these substances are utilized for medicinal purposes pursuant to